Romans 3: 21 - 31

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²² This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood – to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished ²⁶  – he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

²⁷ Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the ‘law’ that requires faith. ²⁸ For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. ²⁹ Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, ³⁰ since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. ³¹ Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Justified Freely by His Grace.

“But now…” So many wonderful passages in the Bible begin this way. It is a particular favourite of Paul in his letters, in the style of the arguments he makes. Another version is , ‘But God…” which often follows a description of how we have turned away from him.

Thus far, Paul has mainly been explaining to his readers how serious sin is, and how we are all guilty of sin – Jews and Gentiles alike. Following Jewish regulations such as circumcision and the Law of Moses does not save people, is what Paul has been saying.

But now… through Christ, something wonderful has happened! Quite apart from the Law, the righteousness of God has been made known. It’s not the righteousness of Jewish traditions – rather, it is the righteousness ‘given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.’ And notice that the righteousness in Christ is given to all who believe: ‘There is no difference between Jew and Gentile’. Paul has been working up to this conclusion of his argument – that all are sinners and we are not saved through being a Jew; rather we are saved through Christ alone.

Verses 23 and 24 are an oft-quoted summary of the Gospel: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Firstly, all have sinned. With the exception of Jesus himself there are no exceptions. No-one can honestly claim to be without sin. Every single one of us has at some point chosen the path of disobedience to God, choosing to live according to selfish desires instead of living for God and other people. In doing so, we fall short of the glory of God, which is perfect. Only a completely perfect person could reach the glory of God on their own – and there has only ever been one of those, namely Jesus himself. However, although all have sinned, all of us can also be justified (declared right with God and free from the stain of sin). And we are freely justified – there is no cost to ourselves! And how does this happen? By his grace (God’s love in action, by which he gives us good things that we have not earned or deserved), through the redemption than came by Christ Jesus. Redemption means ‘to buy back’. Jesus bought us back from the reign of sin and death in our lives – and he did so by paying the ultimate price when he died on the cross.

Paul has been building up to this moment over nearly three chapters of Romans. He spent a long time reminding us of the seriousness of sin, and today we have seen the wonderful way in which God deals with that sin!

 

Prayer

Lord, I know I am a sinner, but I rejoice that I am a forgiven sinner. I thank you that I am justified freely by your grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. I rejoice in your love! Amen.